Associate Director, Patient Community Ambassador (Field Based – East Coast Region)

Who we are: 

Agios is a biopharmaceutical company fueled by connections. We thrive in a supportive, fun, and flexible environment full of people empowered to bring their whole selves to work. We care deeply about our work, each other, and the patients who count on us. Our teams cultivate strong bonds with patient communities, healthcare professionals, partners, and colleagues, which help us discover, develop, and deliver therapies for rare diseases – and make a difference in their lives. In the U.S., Agios markets a first-in-class pyruvate kinase (PK) activator for the treatment of hemolytic anemia in adults with PK deficiency. Building on the company’s leadership in the field of cellular metabolism, Agios is advancing a robust clinical pipeline of investigational medicines with active and planned programs in alpha- and beta-thalassemia, sickle cell disease, pediatric PK deficiency and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-associated anemia.

The impact you will make: 

Agios is seeking a dynamic Associate Director, Patient Community Ambassador to join our growing Patient Advocacy team. This position is field-based and will be responsible for catalyzing broader engagement with patients, caregivers, and patient advocacy organizations at a grassroots level. By building and managing these critical relationships, you will learn and gather deeper insights into the needs of the rare hemolytic anemia disease communities we serve. 

We are looking for a passionate and impact-focused person interested in joining an innovative patient advocacy team, who together will partner with patients to bring about meaningful change. This position will report into the Senior Director of Patient Advocacy and focus on building Agios’ profile in hemolytic anemias, such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease. 

The territory to cover will include East Coast USA.

What you will do: 

• Identify opportunities to build and strengthen relationships with local patients, patient support groups, advocacy organizations, multicultural centers, and faith-based organizations to ensure we better understand the needs of the patient communities.
• Provide quarterly and annual business plans and contribute to developing the company’s local community engagement plan. 
• Represent Agios at key patient-facing events to better understand the community’s perspectives and needs, as well as to collect and share insights to enrich company strategy. 
• Identify disease education opportunities and collaborate with internal colleagues, including Clinical Nurse Educators and Medical Affairs staff to deliver the right information in the most impactful manner.
• Provide weekly updates to Patient Advocacy team members and regional colleagues, ensuring a one-team mindset to support patients.
• Serve as a liaison between the patient community and internal Agios teams, compliantly communicating key information from Agios programs to relevant stakeholders on a local level.
• Adhere to Agios’ policies and standard operating procedures and those regulatory and other ethical guidelines relevant to this role.
• Embrace and demonstrate the Agios culture of absolute integrity, focused execution, incisive leadership, collaborative spirit and pursuit of excellence and innovation.
• Share insights regarding on-the-ground issues, which will feed into Governmental Affairs programing and inform broader company objectives.

What you bring: 

• Minimum of 5 years of patient advocacy experience, with 8 years of progressive experience in a healthcare / biopharma setting. 
• Completed Bachelors degree.
• Proven track record of working collaboratively and with flexibility in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment, while maintaining operational quality.
• Ability to think critically, strategically, and cross functionally.
• Goal oriented, self-starter with a strong ability to self -manage.
• Innovative mindset and a proven ability to challenge the status quo.
• Ability to connect and build trusted relationships with patients, caregivers, and local advocacy organizations.
• Strong understanding of the patient and caregiver experience in rare diseases.
• Bachelor’s degree in science, social science, or a related field.
• Team-minded and able to react constructively in a high-energy and fast paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including oral and written communication skills and strong presentation skills.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with advocacy groups, government officials, and community leaders.
• Ability to relate with a diverse group of individuals and develop rapport quickly.
• Previous work with patients and advocacy groups in thalassemia, sickle cell disease or other rare diseases is preferred.
• Proficient in basic computer skills and Microsoft Word systems.
• Proficiency in an additional language preferred (Mandarin, Hindi or Arabic).
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record.
• Ability and willingness to travel a minimum of 50% of the time.

Travel Requirements:

This position is a remote based field position, providing coverage for the East Coast region of the United States. However, you will also be expected to attend Company-sponsored, in-person events from time to time.

Work Location:

Location Specific – Field/Remote: This is a remote based field position. Employees in field roles must reside within their designated territory. Regular conversations with manager are encouraged to ensure alignment on in-person presence/expectations. Travel may be required commensurate to the above job description and/or to attend team meetings and other company events.

What we will give you: 

• Deliberate development. Your professional growth is one of our top priorities. 
• Flexibility. We’re all about individual needs. We embrace different perspectives, work styles, health and wellness approaches, care of families, and productivity. When you’re at your best, we’re at our best. 
• Premium benefits package. We invest in the health, wellbeing, and security of our people with a premium benefits package that is well-rounded and flexible to help meet the varied personal and professional needs of every member of our team. 
• Competitive performance-based compensation. This includes both short- and long-term incentives that are connected to our business strategy. 
• Psychological safety. We support an environment of fearlessness. We want you to share your ideas, speak candidly, and take data-informed risks to help push the boundaries. 
• Commitment to diversity. We strive to foster a welcoming workplace where everyone can thrive. We’re continuously looking to improve the inclusivity of our workforce. 
• Commitment to community. We’re an active participant in the communities that surround us – the communities where we live, and the community of people and their loved ones in need of better treatment options for conditions that are often overlooked.

Interested in learning more about what makes our culture unique? Visit the Inside Agios section of our website.